Japan

JAPAN - The country's Government Pension Investment Fund (GPIF) returned 3.89% in the quarter ending June 30, it's first positive quarter since the same time last year.

Despite having the second highest public debt in the world and taking a significant beating in the economic downturn, Japan's investment community is looking ahead to long-term investment, as Rachel Alembakis reports

While already successful in its native Japan, Nomura Asset Management is looking to expand on a global scale, but are they looking before they leap? Raquel Pichardo-Allison reports

JAPAN - Nomura Asset Management plans to expand its business in a bid to become a more global player in the asset management industry.

JAPAN - Sumitomo Trust and Banking Co. has announced plans to buy Citigroup's Japanese asset management arm, Nikko Asset Management, for JPY112.4bn (US$1.2bn).

JAPAN - Japanese corporate pension funds have increased their allocations to domestic bonds and reduced exposure to equities, a survey by JPMorgan Asset Management Japan reveals.

JAPAN - Japanese corporate pension funds lost an average of 17.1% in the year ended March 31, the worst losses in over a decade, according to data by Watson Wyatt.

JAPAN- Japan's Government Pensions Investment Fund (GPIF) saw a Y5.7trn (US$58.4bn) decline in assets in the fourth quarter of 2008 on the back of weak equity returns.

JAPAN - Japanese defined benefit (DB) pension funds are struggling to preserve strong funding ratios, despite having entered the third quarter of 2008 in a relatively strong position, a Greenwich Associates' study has found.

JAPAN - A move by the Japanese government to allow employees to match employer contributions in defined contribution (DC) plans will accelerate the growth of the retirement savings vehicles, according to Towers Perrin.